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Gambero Rosso

4.0 (43 reviews)
Ultra High-EndWine Bars, Seafood, Ligurian
Closed 12:00 pm - 3:00 PM, 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Gambero Rosso Photos

GAMBERO ROSSO ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Good for groups
Outdoor seating
Good for kids

Recommended Reviews - Gambero Rosso

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Reviews With Photos

Megan B.

Eh. Service was nice, location was prime, but for us, food was just okay. We didn't make any reservations, it was a busy day and we were able to get a table quickly. I wouldn't actively avoid the restaurant, but I also wouldn't seek it out again.

nut sauce
Alexander H.

This restaurant here has a prime location on the Piazza down at the small port in Vernazza. Still, the prices are fair, the staff was friendly and helpful and the food really good. So it's far from being a tourist trap you might expect from this kind of location. Had a glass of local white wine, a mixed acciughe (anchovies) platter for a starter, Spaghetti Vongole (clams) and homemade pasta for a main. The acciughe came in all different forms and shapes. Fried, grilled, dried and salted and in oil. All very good, high quality. The Cinque Terre is famous for having great acciughe. The Spaghetti Vongole were decent, not the best ever, but enjoyable. Pasta perfectly cooked al dente. The pasta I had (some kind of homemade ravioli - just a different shape) were really great. Nicely filled and cooked perfectly. But the best part of it was the sauce. It was a (hazel? walnut?) sauce. What might sound a bit crazy, was actually a perfect match. Suprisingly good...no, great. A really nice choice, this restaurant. If you want a great location and some good food, look no further.

The restaurant setting
JB W.

The Lobster Pasta specialty was top notch, one of the best things I've eaten in the area. The stuffed mussel were solid and the burrata with anchovies were very good as well. Amazing setting and we had good service which started slow but ended great. Great Cinque Terre location and food.

Michael R.

We visited on a Tuesday evening and found the staff to be very friendly. My girlfriend really enjoyed her meal: John Dory. I had the steamed mussels which were a bit overpowering in the salt department, but okay nonetheless. Great view of the harbor from the restaurant.

Red mullet
J. M.

Such an amazing time to spend at Gambero Rosso. Don't expect much in the way of great bread while in Florence, Tuscany or Cinque Terre-it's just not common to find as perhaps many Western pallets may anticipate. However, you will find excellent seafood and pasta dishes. The red mullet was a bit more gamey than desired but was a popular dish seen on other tables as well. Lobster pasta was excellent and the sardines like no other-fresh as can be. Try the sampler to compare the tastes of all of them. Caprese salad practically came from the ground to the plate w those tomatoes. Amazing. Gambero was perhaps my favorite restaurant on this last tour of Italy. Great service and cannot beat the view and scenery in beautiful Vernazza.

Mussels
Min C.

Great location to enjoy a nice lunch or dinner by the water in the piazza. However, food was ok. Disappointed with the shrimp, a couple of which was mushy so not worth the 30euros we spent. the calamari gratin I didn't care for as well due to its doughy outer texture. I do love the pasta dish, mussels, and the grilled octopus (not pictured). The staff speaks enough English to take orders.

Whole delicious octopus
Tom D.

This place was a treat for lunch after a hike from Monte Rosso to Vernazza. We arrived in the middle of lunch and the restaurant was crazy busy but if you show some patience and get the servers attention he will put you on the list for a table. We only waited about 10 minutes and a table opened up. Lunch was very tasty, the grilled octopus is literally an entire octopus, huge portion perfectly grilled. My wife ordered the mussels in marinara sauce. The marinara is actually a broth but was delicious and also a huge portion. Add in a couple of glasses of wine and you have a great lunch, especially after a long difficult hike. We have been here a couple years in a row and can highly recommend Gambero Rosso for lunch (have not been for dinner).

Lobster pasta!
Matt E.

This restaurant should have WAY more reviews that it does. Gambero Rosso is located on the square of Vernazza with great views of the ocean and night life. Normally, if a restaurant is located right in the middle of an ideal location in a tourist destination then the food will be subpar (aka a tourist trap). This is NOT the case. Get the Lobster pasta (you can ask for a single serving size or for two size. It's amazing! The muscles are excellent as well. The price is just right as well! You can't beat the food, location, friendly staff, and great atmosphere. Highly recommend this place. PS: do NOT eat at the restaurant across the square. Very rude staff.

Spaghetti with seafood - simple and delicious
Lena K.

I will dream about the two dinners I had at Il Gambero Rosso last week for months to come. This was the best restaurant I tried during a recent visit to Cinque Terre -- so good we had dinner here twice in three days. The pasta is incredibly fresh and you can't beat the view, overlooking Vernazza's picturesque harbor and main square. Don't let sitting sea-side fool you into thinking the food won't measure up, which does seem to be an issue at other restaurants in Cinque Terre. We got the troflie al pesto Ligurie and seafood spaghetti both times because they were so good -- perfectly al dente pasta with simple but such satisfying flavor. If you want to try a pesto dish during your time in Cinque Terre, this one is it. (In case you didn't know, Cinque Terre is the birthplace of pesto and troflie is one of the traditional pastas they make with it.) We eyed many other dishes served nearby that looked incredible, from a giant pan of mussels to a whole roasted fish. The service was also great - incredibly friendly, responsive servers. We didn't make reservations either time but were seated quickly by going on the earlier side (around 7/7:30 p.m.). I would highly recommend Il Gambero Rosso if you're staying in or stopping by Vernazza.

Michael A.

We spent a day visiting Cinque Terre, and we decided to take a break in Vernazza and get some food. Gambero Rosso is a cute restaurant located right on the water. You don't come all the way to Vernazza to sit inside, so we got a table on the waterfront, overlooking the little plaza and the local beach. We ordered a mixed seafood with some pickled veggies as an appetizer. Appetizer was delicious and every single piece of seafood was cooked to perfection. I loved the octopus! For main dish we ordered some grilled scampi, boiled in sea salt. Amazing dish. It tasted as good as it looked :) Next time I am visiting Cinque Terre I am taking a several days off so I can enjoy properly each of these beautiful villages.

Sandra H.

Delicious! Beautiful setting.... right by the water. The prices are pretty standard. Service was excellent. We sat outdoors. The house wine was perfect!

Come on. Look at this picture. Could be the best meal I have every had!
Herr K.

Second time I have visited Vernazza in four years. Came to this restaurant both times. Had the same meal- this seafood medley that was outrageously huge. The meal is legendary in my family. SO GOOD! If I return to Vernazza, I will have it again!

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7 years ago

Very good food. We really liked the pasta dishes we had. Dessert was ok but food was to die for.

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8 years ago

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8 years ago

Finally, the Italian place we've been looking for! Amazing food we ate here twice even though I rarely eat at the same place twice.

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8 years ago

Great service! Very friendly and knowledgeable waiters. Awesome view, right next to the water. Some of the best pasta we have had in Italy

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Gambero Rosso Reviews in Other Languages

Review Highlights - Gambero Rosso

We spent a day visiting Cinque Terre, and we decided to take a break in Vernazza and get some food.

Mentioned in 6 reviews

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Vineria Santa Maria

Vineria Santa Maria

4.3(7 reviews)
0.1 km

While visiting the town of Vernazza - Cinque Terre, my party and I stumbled upon this quaint wine…read moreshop just a stone's throw from the train station. This a great place to do a little wine tasting and to pick up some wine from the Cinque Terre region. One of the wines we sampled and immediately purchased was the Sciacchetra, a dry dessert wine produced only in the Cinque Terre. I'm not usually a fan of dessert wine, but I enjoyed the Sciacchetra. This wine is not exported out of the area due to the limited production quantity, so you should buy it if you are in the area. Vineria Santa Maria was one of the few places that allowed you to sample the wine for about 9 euro. They offered a bottle for about 33 euro and I noticed that this variety can easy go up to 60 to 80 euro per bottle. You can also purchase other varieties of white wine from Cinque Terre and the surrounding regions as well. If I ever find myself back in Vernazza, I will definitely stop in for more wine from Vineria Santa Maria.

The patio's tha real MVP here. The food is enjoyable, but not remarkable. The menu is small and…read moredoesn't offer much outside of pesto dishes, pizza, and a few seafood dishes. My wife and I split the Trofie Al Pesto E Fagiolini and the Pizza Con Prosciutto Crudo Di Parma. We liked both--no ragrets! (If you don't get that reference, get off Yelp and go to Yellow Pages or Trip Advisor) However, we expect to be wowed here in Italy, and while the food was enjoyable, we wouldn't recommend it.

Photos
Vineria Santa Maria - Egg and bacon breakfast!

Egg and bacon breakfast!

Vineria Santa Maria - Wine tasting: 3 for €10

Wine tasting: 3 for €10

Vineria Santa Maria

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Nessun Dorma - Basilito and bruschetta

Nessun Dorma

4.6(189 reviews)
4.6 km
€€

Our visit to Nessun Dorma for their pesto-making class ended up being the highlight of our entire…read moretrip to Cinque Terre. We came in not knowing what to expect--whether it would feel overly touristy or genuinely authentic--but it exceeded every expectation. From the moment we arrived, the staff made us feel incredibly welcome, especially traveling with our young daughter. The class itself was both fun and informative. The owner took the time to explain the history and importance of each fresh ingredient, which made the experience feel meaningful rather than just a cooking demo. What really set this apart was the atmosphere. It was interactive, relaxed, and genuinely joyful--we even found ourselves dancing with our daughter by the end. Enjoying freshly made pesto and burrata while overlooking one of the most stunning views in Cinque Terre made it unforgettable. A special thank you to Michael, who went above and beyond--answering all our questions and sharing great local recommendations, especially for swimming spots. If you're visiting Manarola, this is an absolute must-do experience.

We visited about two months ago and I'm just getting around to writing the review…read more Nessun Dorma is one of those places that hits you the second you walk in. The view alone is insane -- straight-up postcard-level Manarola cliffs and pastel houses glowing in the sun. And then there's the owner, whose energy could power half of Cinque Terre. He literally won this failing spot in a contest and turned it into a full-on experience. Locals may not love that he's a southerner who made it big, but honestly? He's built something incredible. The pesto class is a highlight. You learn exactly where every ingredient comes from, and you realize how tiny an amount of that super-strong garlic you actually need. And smashing basil by hand in a mortar and pestle? Way better than a blender -- you can taste the difference. After class, you're absolutely not leaving hungry. They load you up with wine and a charcuterie board that's basically a meal. And yes -- at some point, you will dance. It's just that kind of place. And the sign you pass on the way in? "Today is a good day to be happy." At Nessun Dorma, it really is.

Photos
Nessun Dorma - Pesto making class - Phase 1

Pesto making class - Phase 1

Nessun Dorma - Soaking basil in water

Soaking basil in water

Nessun Dorma - Incredible view!

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Incredible view!

La Posada - Bruschetta

La Posada

4.4(30 reviews)
2.7 km
€€

1. Great service: we arrived 30 minutes before their closing time, and the waitress still seated us…read more2. Fresh seafood and ingredients: we had salted anchovies, octopus salad, lasagna, and spaghetti with mussels sauce. All delicious 3. View: looking out of the ocean, you can see Manarola from afar.

After seeing so many raving Yelp reviews of this restaurant, we decided to give it a shot on our…read morelast night in Corniglia. Right off the bat, a lil bit of a weird vibe from the hostess and the waiter that gave us nonstop stares as we sat down and then proceeded to bring us stale bread in a paper bag. At first I thought it was just a few stares because we're American and that's maybe understandable, but every time I would look over in their direction I was met with intense eye contact and it made us all feel very uncomfortable and almost unwelcome. The inside ambiance was also a little sterile but whatever, it was also colder out so their outside area was closed so that was a bummer but understandable. We ordered the Trofie Al Pesto and the Lasgana, as well as the grilled mixed seafood. The pesto came with prepackaged Parmesan (felt a lil weird for a restaurant in Italy) and was a lil too sauce heavy. The lasagna on the other hand was outstanding, probably the only win of the night. Grilled seafood was okay too but nothing special. Overall just a weird and off vibe from the service, nothing friendly or outstanding like the reviews said. Definitely will not be returning and left us with a bad taste in our mouth once we left.

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La Posada
La Posada - Codfish fritters with red onion marmalade.

Codfish fritters with red onion marmalade.

La Posada - View of Manorolo.

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View of Manorolo.

Gambero Rosso - wine_bars - Updated May 2026

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